Deal in place to cut ammo magazine limit to 10 rounds

February 20, 2014

Democratic lawmakers in both house of the legislature have struck a deal that would allow passage of a measure restricting gun owners to a 10-round magazine, down from the current limit of 15, two sources with knowledge of the deal said today.

In exchange, the legislature will shepherd through a gun-owner championed bill that would define what are known in the gun world as “reasonable deviations” to the law governing transport of a firearm.

Currently a gun owner may only transport an unloaded, stored weapon straight to the destination, be it on a hunting trip or to a gun range. Under the law, a gun owner may detour from the route only for deviations that are “reasonable.”

But next week lawmakers will introduce a bill that would define those deviations as small detours to allow for emergencies, picking up another range goer or hunter or for short side trip like gas station stops and bathroom breaks.

Sources say the gun control advocates initially pushed back against the bill but eventually agreed to the compromise after the early measure was scaled back.

As part of the fanfare surrounding the announcement of the ammunition magazine limit, families of the young victims of the 2012 Newtown, Ct. school shootings will be on hand to attend a press conference with legislative leaders.

The families, part of the advocacy group Sandy Hook Promise, named after the elementary school where the shooting happened, have long pushed for the magazine limit, saying it’s a measure that does not restrict anyone from gun ownership, but could still save lives.

The magazine limit was initially passed last year in the Assembly, but was held up in the Senate where Sweeney (D-Gloucester) refused to put the measure for a vote. At the time, Sweeney called the current 15-round limit “reasonable.”

But two sources say Sweeney is now prepared to pass the 10-round limit. Assemblyman Lou Greenwald (D-Camden), who sponsored the measure in the lower chamber last year, said the Assembly is fully on board with the proposal as well.

“We’ve been part of this discussion and we’ve always said there has to be a limit on magazine size,” Greenwald said. “There is a position now that everyone is comfortable with that will allow the passage of both bills.”

Fewer rounds in a magazine means more reload time, gun control advocates say, and more time for people involved in a mass shooting to stop the shooter or run away. The drop, they say, means only an inconvenience for gun owners, while it could save lives.

“The Governor should take to heart the tragic experience of the Sandy Hook families as well as their heartfelt commitment to safety from gun violence for all Americans and sign the ten round maximum capacity bill when it reaches his desk. It’s about public safety,” said Bryan Miller, executive director of Heeding God’s Call, a faith-based organization focused on preventing gun violence. “Opponents of this remarkably moderate and reasonable public safety measure make clear their extremism, for no one needs more than ten rounds for hunting, sport shooting or self defense.”

Second Amendment advocates counter that the limit will only apply to lawful gun owners and not to criminals who purchase their weapons illegally.

“For the most part this is the same feel-good, do-nothing legislation that the New Jersey legislature is so fond of sponsoring,” said New Jersey Second Amendment Society President Frank Fiamingo in an interview earlier this month. “As usual, the legislation targets the law-abiding gun owner who has purchased a gun legally and does not address the gangs and the career criminals who are committing the crimes.”

It remains to be seen if the Gov. Chris Christie will sign both bills. Advocates say they have received no indication from the governor if he supports the measures.

A spokesman for the governor said Christie does not comment on pending legislation.